Money Management? HELP!!!

[ajays327]

I'm eager to make my first trip to the casino when I turn 21 in just 3 weeks. I have been brutally drilling hi/lo for over a year now and my basic strategy is flawless. However, being a student, my bankroll is only $300. I will be playing in Atlantic city hopefully at the $5 minimum tables.. if i can find them. I think they use 8 deck shoes these days. What should my betting spread be? And how should i relate it to the true count. In other words, when my TC is +1 what should i bet and when should i make my next bet increase? when the TC is +2, +3 , +4, +5 etc..? Thanks to anyone who can help

 

[Mimosine]

take the whole $300.

backcount only, when the TC hits 1.5 play $10, when it hits +4 bet $20.

you have a very large chance of losing all your money, if you wanted to play as long as possible, then wong in only at TC=+1.5 and flat bet at $10 regardless if the count jumps. if the count dips below -1 then you absoluely must get up from that table and find another one...

you can not afford to be in a play all environment with $300 and $10 table mins.

have fun --- and DO NOT DRINK.

 

[ajays327]

Thanks

for the advice! Hopefully "the force" will be with me that night. Hopefully I can find some $5 tables at the showboat since it will be midweek when i go.

 

[aslan]

for the advice! Hopefully "the force" will be with me that night. Hopefully I can find some $5 tables at the showboat since it will be midweek when i go.

There is one and only one five-dollar table at the Borgata in AC. In three trips I have not been able to get on it. Very popular!

 

[Mimosine]

for the advice! Hopefully "the force" will be with me that night. Hopefully I can find some $5 tables at the showboat since it will be midweek when i go.

if you find a $5 table spread $5-$20(at TC +4), wong out if the count ever hits -1.5.

with a 1-4 spread and 8D you will still be at a disadvantage. if you spread higher you might not have enough max bets to play very long. If possible, wong into your first shoe at the $5 table, betting $10 at TC +1.5.

do not play negative counts for the sake of counting. you'd be better off backcounting watching to see if other people are playing right, and checking your BS and index skills.

 

[ajays327]

if you find a $5 table spread $5-$20(at TC +4), wong out if the count ever hits -1.5.

so at TC +1 bet $5, at TC+2 bet $10, TC+3 bet $15, and TC+4 and higher bet $20 ?

 

[avs21]

so at TC +1 bet $5, at TC+2 bet $10, TC+3 bet $15, and TC+4 and higher bet $20 ?

Your ROR will be too high with any spread. I would just backcount and jump in at TC +2 and flat bet 5$ and if the count goes negative go to another table. How high of ROR are you willing to play with?

 

[Knox]

A 6D game is not worth playing if you can't afford to at least spread 1-10. You would be much better off playing double deck where a 1-5 spread is adequate. Then your max bet would only be $25 on a $5 table.

I would not play $10 tables with $300, unless you can afford to just blow the money and not care about it.

You might play well and get lucky (you need to do both) and never get behind. However, there is a thread on here about one of our fellow counters who ran into a bad luck streak and lost 50 units of his maximum and 400 units of his minimum bet, spreading 1-8 on $5 tables for a loss of $2000 over a three week period. I think he was playing mostly all double deck too. If you are going to play 6D or even 8D the variance will be worse.

The rule of thumb for almost no chance of losing everything is about 100 units of your maximum bet.

Good luck and I don't mean to be a downer or give you a lecture. I hope you win but your chance of losing is high and you should be prepared for that. Until you get a larger bankroll your fate is mostly out of your control.

 

[ajays327]

Yeah that's what im beginning to see. I think maybe i might just play for fun with the almost certain possibility of losing. Playing this way, i will actually be able to drink and enjoy my 21st birthday. It makes me angry though for the amount of studying i've done.

 

[Knox]

Congrats on b-day #21! If you have studied and know the game you have certainly earned the right to go play. That is a lot more than what most people do.

Even if you lose, you will have gained valuable experience that will benefit your game in the future.

I say go kick some hiney and if the house gets lucky and beats you so be it. That is what I would do in your situation!

I'd consider a max bet in the $15-$25 range.

 

[GeorgeD]

Yeah that's what im beginning to see. I think maybe i might just play for fun with the almost certain possibility of losing. Playing this way, i will actually be able to drink and enjoy my 21st birthday. It makes me angry though for the amount of studying i've done.

If you're going to play anyway and prepared to lose your whole bankroll, why not play, but just flat bet and practice counting to see if you can keep the count. You will be more likely to play longer that if you spread, and get some real casino practice.

Bear in mind that even at the $5 level you still could lose $300 in a few hours ... or you could double your money in a few hours.

 

[Knox]

flat bet and practice counting

Not a bad idea either. Hard to resist throwing out a little more money when the count goes up though. Hopefully you can at least break even and drink for free.

Let us know how it goes and good luck!

 

[ajays327]

Thanks for the advice guys, i'll be heading down to AC on Aug. 14...so maybe i can muster up some extra cash in the next few weeks to make my play last longer

 

[Reno Dude]

Yeah that's what im beginning to see. I think maybe i might just play for fun with the almost certain possibility of losing. Playing this way, i will actually be able to drink and enjoy my 21st birthday. It makes me angry though for the amount of studying i've done.

Think possitive. I just got home from playing a single deck game at a $25 min table. I started with $200 and walked away with $600. It can be done if the cards are going your way.

 

[shadroch]

Just be aware that many Jersey clubs have a "no power hour" rule,which means you can't start drinking at midnite of your 21st birthday. Some say 8am,some say noon.Way too many bad results from binge drinking.

 

[Reno Dude]

Think possitive. I just got home from playing a single deck game at a $25 min table. I started with $200 and walked away with $600. It can be done if the cards are going your way.

I forgot to mention... I was up to $800 and rat holed $600 and then started drinking. I left was the $200 on the table was gone and I was buzzed

 

[Kasi]

Yeah that's what im beginning to see. I think maybe i might just play for fun with the almost certain possibility of losing. Playing this way, i will actually be able to drink and enjoy my 21st birthday. It makes me angry though for the amount of studying i've done.

Ah, to be 21 again. Well, maybe not lol.

Like George, and you say, I'd play for fun, count as long as u can before u get drunk, make a few index plays with a flat-bet, so ur training isn't wasted, maybe bet $10 in a very high count once every couple hours or so (again so ur studying isn't wasted). Assuming a $5 table. If u get to the end and have some money, go ahead and have some fun with it and lose it then with big bets if u feel the need.

Forget about spreading with the count - ridiculous.

Don't do like my nephew and lose $500 in 3 minutes, making a $75 bet that got split and doubled a few times. Poof - back home he goes!

Your studying is not wasted if u make the right plays or bet bigger in + counts. You'll still be cutting the house edge a little.

Chances of losing $300 at a $5 table over a few hours aren't really that great if u flat-bet.
Chances of doubling your money are also very unlikely.
Chances of having fun on ur only 21st Bday, 100% :grin:

Anyway good luck and have fun.